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IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


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Hiotographic 

Sciences 

Corporation 


33  WIST  MAIN  STRKT 

WEBSTER,  N.Y.  143M 

(716)  •72-4503 


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CIHM/ICMH 

Microfiche 

Series. 


CiHM/ICIViH 
Collection  de 
microfiches. 


Canadian  tnstituta  for  Historical  IMicroroproductions  /  Institut  Canadian  da  microraiiroductions  historiquas 


Tachnieal  and  •ibUographic  NotM/NotM  twshniquM  M  biblloffraphiquM 


Th«  InstituM  hat  att«fnpt«d  to  obtain  tho  bost 
original  copy  ovoilablo  for  fUming.  Pooturoa  of  thia 
copy  which  may  bo  biMiograpMoaHy  uniqua. 
which  may  altar  any  of  tho  imagaa  in  tha 
raproduction.  or  wMoh  may  aignlfleantly  ehanga 
tha  uauai  matliod  of  filminf .  ara  ehackad  balow. 


□   Colourod  eovara/ 
Couvartuia  da  eoulaur 


I — I  Covara  damagad/ 


D 


Couvortura  andommagia 

Covora  raatorad  and/or  laminatad/ 
Couvortura  raatauria  at/ou  palliculAa 


pn  Covor  titia  miaaing/ 


D 
D 


a 


D 


Lo  titro  do  couvorturo  manqua 


I — I   Colourod  mapa/ 


Cartaa  gtographiquaa  an  eoulaur 


□   Colourod  ink  (i.o.  otfior  than  Mua  or  black)/ 
Encra  da  eoulaur  (i.a.  autra  qua  Maua  ou  noirol 

[~n   Colourod  plataa  and/or  Hiuatrationa/ 


Planchaa  at/ou  muatrationa  an  ooulour 

Bound  with  othor  matarial/ 
RalM  avac  d'autraa  doeumonta 

Tight  binding  may  eauaa  ahadowa  or  diatortion 
along  intarior  margin/ 

La  ra  Uura  —rr^  paut  eauaar  da  I'ombro  ou  do  la 
fHBtDfakm  !•  Inna  da  la  maraa  intAriauna 

Blank  laavaa  addad  during  raatoration  may 
appear  within  tha  ta»t.  Whunuvr  poaaiblo.  thoao 
have  baan  omittod  from  filming/ 
II  ao  pout  quo  eortainaa  pagaa  blanehaa  aioutioa 
kMO  d'uno  roatauration  apparaiaaant  dana  la  taxta. 
maia,  loraquo  cola  Atait  poaaJbIa,  caa  pagaa  n'ont 
paa  «ti  fUm4aa. 

Additional  eommonta:/ 
Commontairaa  aupplAmantairaa: 


L'Inatitut  a  mierofilm*  lo  moillour  axamplaira 
qu'il  lui  a  itA  poaaibia  do  ao  procurer.  Lea  ditaila 
do  cot  exompiaira  qui  aotut  pout-At^o  uniquea  du 
point  do  vuo  bibliographiqua.  qui  pauvent  modifier 
uno  image  roproduito,  ou  qui  pouvont  exiger  une 
modifleation  dana  la  mAthodo  normale  do  f iimage 
aont  imffquAa  ci-deeaoua. 


D 


Colourod  pagaa/ 
da  couleur 


D 


rr]  Pagaa  damaged/ 


t*agaa  endommag4aa 

Pagea  raatorad  and/oi 

Pagoe  roataurAoa  et/ou  polliculAea 

Pagea  diacoloured.  atainad  or  foxei 
Pagea  dicoiorAoa.  tachistAaa  ou  piquAea 

Pagea  detached/ 
Pagea  dAtachAea 


r~n   Pagea  raatorad  and/or  laminated/ 

0   Pagaa  diacoloured.  atainad  or  foxed/ 
Pagea 

rn   Pagea  detached/ 


Th 
to 


Th 
po 
of 
fill 


Or 
bo 

tb 
ak 
o« 
fin 
aio 
or 


rj]   Showthrough/ 


Tranaparance 

Quality  of  prin 

Qualiti  inAgala  do  I'improaaion 

Includoa  aupplementary  materii 
Comprond  du  metAriel  aupplimentaire 


rn   Quality  of  print  variea/ 

pn   Includoa  aupplementary  materiel/ 


I — I   Only  edition  available/ 


Th 
Til 


Ml 
dif 
em 
bei 
rig 
ra« 
ma 


Seule  Mition  diaponiblo 


wholly  or  partially  obacurad  by  errata 
alipa.  tiaauea.  etc..  have  been  refilmed  to 
enaure  the  beat  poaaiblo  image/ 
Lea  pagea  tota^ament  ou  partieilement 
obacurcioa  par  un  fauiUet  d'errata.  une  pelure. 
etc..  ont  itA  fiimAoa  *  nouveau  da  fapon  A 
obtenir  la  maiHouro  image  poaaiblo. 


Thia  item  ia  fHmod  at  the  reduction  ratio  checked  below/ 

Co  document  eat  filmA  au  taux  da  rAduction  indiquA  ci-doaaoua 

10X                          MX                           1BX                          22X 

2fX 

aox 

1 

"^""H 

y 

12X 


10X 


30H 


MX 


2tX 


32X 


The  copy  fNiiMd  hsr*  hM  bMn  rtproduewl  thanks 
to  th*  gwMTCMlty  of : 

Douglas  Library 
Quoon's  Univarsity 


L'axamplaira  fHiii*  f  ut  raproduit  grioa  i  la 
g4n4roolt«  da: 

Douglas  Library 
Quaan's  Univarsity 


quality 
laglMHty 
tha 


Tha  Imagaa  appaaring  hara  ara  tba 
poaalbia  conaMarlng  tha  condition 
of  tha  original  eopy  and  In  kaaping 
filming  contract  spaoiflcationa. 


Orlglnai  ooplaa  In  prbitad  papar  covara  ara  fNmad 
baglnning  with  tha  front  covar  and  anding  on 
tha  last  paga  with  a  printad  or  Hluatratad  impras- 
sion,  or  tha  back  cover  whan  approprlata.  AH 
othar  original  copiaa  ara  fUmad  baglnning  on  tha 
first  paga  with  a  printad  or  IHustratad  impraa- 
slon.  and  anding  on  tha  last  paga  with  a  printad 
or  Hluatratad  Impraaakin. 


Tha  last  racordad  frama  uti  aach  microflcha 
shaH  contain  tha  symbol  — ^^  (moaning  "CON- 
TINUED"), or  tha  symbol  y  (moaning  "END"), 
whichavar  applias. 


Laa  Imagaa  sulvantas  ont  it4  rsproduHas  avac  la 
plus  grand  soHi,  compto  tanu  da  la  condition  at 
da  to  nattati  da  raxamptaira  filmA.  at  an 
conformM  avac  las  conditions  du  contrat  da 
fHmaga. 

Laa  aaamptolraa  orlginaux  dont  to  couvartura  an 
paplar  aat  ImprlmAa  sont  fHmis  an  commanftant 
par  to  pramiar  plat  at  an  tarmlnant  soit  par  to 
damtora  paga  qui  comporta  una  amprainta 
dimpraaslen  ou  dIHuatratlon,  soit  par  to  sacond 
plat.  sakHi  to  caa.  Tous  tos  autraa  axamptoiras  . 
orlginaux  aont  fHm4a  an  commanpant  par  to 
pramMia  paga  qui  comporta  una  amprainta 
dimprassion  ou  d'lHustration  at  an  tarmlnant  par 
to  damtora  paga  qui  comporta  una  talto 
amprainta. 

Un  das  symbdaa  suhrants  apparaftra  sur  to 
damtora  imaga  da  chaqua  mteroflcha.  ssion  la 
caa:  to  symboto  -»•  signifto  "A  8UIVRE",  to 
symboto  ▼  signifto  "FIN". 


IMaps.  ptotaa.  charts,  ate,  may  ba  fiimai  at 
diffarant  raduction  rattos.  Thosa  too  iarfa  to  ba 
antiraly  included  in  ona  expoaura  ara  fHmad 
beginning  in  tha  uppar  iaft  hand  comor.  toft  to 
right  and  top  to  bottom,  as  many  framaa  as 
raquirad.  Tha  following  dtograms  Hlustrata  tha 
method: 


Lao  cartas,  ptonches,  tableaux,  etc..  peuvem  dtre 
fllmte  i  dee  taux  da  rMuctton  diffArants. 
Lorsque  to  document  eat  trop  grand  pour  fttre 
reproduit  en  un  soul  citehA.  il  eet  fllmA  i  pertir 
do  I'angto  sup4rtour  gauche,  do  gauche  k  droite, 
et  do  haut  en  bee,  en  prenent  to  nombre 
dlmegee  n4cessaire.  Lee  dtogremmes  suivents 
Hlustrent  to  mithode. 


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[6] 
MESSAGl 


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rSOMTHS 

PEESIDBNT  OF  THE  UNITED  BTA1#i» 

tftANSMITTIVO 
COMMUNICATIONS  FROM  THE  PLBKlPOTENTIAme^ 


*  THE  VJ^TJXD  BTATESi 

CSAROBOWITB 

NEGOTIATING  PEACE  WITH  GREA' 

BHBWXWOTBX':'^ 


'■»,' 


cojvjuTiQjifs  ojv  macsjiLOjvs  tbat  QorzsjsrMEj^' 


FPT  AN  E^D  TO  THE  WAB. 


«'  "iiiiii 


Bcferr^  totfb  counOttoe  of  Foreigii  Bdatbiii}. 


14 


■^ 


»  » 


WASHINGTON 


A-  AilD  Ck  WAT^  PRINTERB. 


iV-;- 


-Uii..^ 


:^m^mr'r'Pt't?-- 


The  EDITH  /zW  LORNE  PIERCE 
COLLECTION  of  CANADI  ANA 


i^ueerCs  University  at  Kingston 


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MESSAGE. 


'To  ihe  Senate  and  House  cf  Bepresentatwi^ 
1^  the  United  Stategf 

I  LAY  before  copgress  commuiilciitioiis  just 
received  from  the  plenipotentiaries  of  the  IJiiit<&4 
States,  charged  with  negotiating  peace  with  €h(ibiit 
Britain ;  shewing  the  conditions  on  which  alone  that 
government  is  willing  to  pnt  an  end  to  the  war. 

The  instructions  to  those  plenipotentiaries  disclos- 
ing the  grounds  on  which  they  were  authorized  to 
negotiate  and  conclude  a  treaty  of  peace^  will  be  the 
subject  of  anothcir  communication. 

JAME8  MADIBaK> 


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W^Uingtop,  October  10, 18H* 


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COPT  of  a  letter  from  the  Commissioncra 
extraordinary  and  plenipotenliary^  of  the 
United  States^  for  treating  of  peace  with 
Great  Britain,   to  the   Secretary  of  State, 

dated  :;;: '  '.■••^^•^^:  ^'^^  .:m\^--.  s,,..,- 


;ft 


SIR, 


,  Ghent,  12th  Au|;ust;  ISii. 


"^E  have  tlie  honor  to  iDform  you  that  the 
British  commis^ioiierSj^  lord  Gambier,  Henry  Goul- 
boum,  esq.  and  William  Adams,  esq.  arrived  in  this 
city  on  Saturdfiy  evening  the  sixth  instant.  The  day 
after  their  arrival,  Mr.  Baker,  their  secretary,  called 
upon  lis  to  give  us  notice  of  the  fact,  and  to  propose 
a  meeting,  at  a  certain  hour,  on  the  ensuing  day. 
The  place  haying  been  agi'eed  upon,  we  accordingly 
met  at  one  o'clock,  on  Monday  the  8th  instant. 

^  We  inclose  herewith  a  copy  of  the  full  powers  ex- 
hibited by  the  British  commissionei*s  at  tnat  confer-r 
ern^e;  which  was  opened  on  their  part  by  an  expres-. 
sion  of  the  sincere  and  earnest  desire  of  their  govern- 
ment, tbiit  the  negotiation  might  result  in  a  solid 
peace,  honorable  to  both  parties.  They,  at  the  same 
timci  declared,  that  no  events  which  had  occurred 
9ince  the  first  proposal  for  this  negotiation,  had  alter- 
ed  the  pacific  disposition  of  their  government,  or  va- 
ried its  views,  as  to  the  terms  upon  which  it  wi|6  will- 
mg  to  conclude  the  peace.  4  :,^:;.:m^^'- 

\Ve  answered  that  we  hea^rd  these  declarations 
with  great  satisfaction,  and  tliat  our  government  had 
acceded  to  the  proposal  of  negotiation,  with  the  most 
sincere  desire  to  put  an  end  to  the  difierences  which 
divided  the  two  countries ;  and  to  lay  upon  just  and 
liberal  grounds,  the  foundation  of  a  peace,  which,  se- 
curing the  rights  and  interests  of  both  nations,  should 
unite  them  by  lasting  boi^ds  pf  amity.      ,        v^, 


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The  British  commissioners  then  stated  the  follow- 
ing subjects,  as  those  upon  which  it  ajppeared  to  them 
that  the  discussions  w^ould  be  likely  to  turn^  and  on 
which  they  were  instructed. 

1.  The  forcible  seizure  of  manners  on  board  of 
mercliant  Vessels,  and  in  connection  with  it,  the  claim 
of  his  Britannic  majesty  to  the  allegiance  of  all  the 
native  subjects  uf  Great  Britain. 

We  upderatood  thein  to  intiiuaie,  that  the  British 
gpvernment  did  not  propose  this  point,  as  one  which 
they  were  particularly  desirous  of  discussing;  bat 
that,  as  it  had  occupied  so  prominent  a  place  in  the 
disputes  between  the  two  countries,  it  necessarily  at- 
tracted notice,  and  was  considered  as  a  subject  which 
would  comer  under  discussion, 

S.  The  Indian  allies  of  Great  Britain  to  be  in- 
cluded in  the  pmsification,  and  a  definite  boundary  to 
be  settled  for  their  territory. 

The  British  commissioners  stated,  that  an  arrange^ 
ment  upon  this  point  was  a  iine  qua  mm;  that  they 
were  not  authorized  to  conclude  a  treaty  of  peace, 
which  did  not  embrace  the  Indians  as  allies  of  his 
Britannic  majesty;  and  that  the  establirLnieiitof  a  de- 
finite boundary  of  the  Indian  temtory,  vvts  necessary 
to  secure  a  permanent  peace,  not  only  with  the  Indi- 
ans, but  also  between  the  United  States  and  Great 
Britain. 

8.  A.  revision  of  the  boundary  line  between  the 
United  States,  and  the  adjacent  British  colonies. 

With  respect  to  this  point,  they  expressly  dis- 
claimed "ny  intention  on  the  part  of  their  government^ 
to  acquire  an  increase  of  territory,  and  represented  the 
proposed  revision>  as  intended  merely  for  the  purpose 
of  preventing  uncertainty  and  dispute. 

After  having  stated  these  three  point»,  as  subjects 
of  discussion,  tluii  British  commissioners  added,  'that> 
before  they  desired  any  answer  fipom  us,  they  fek  it  in. 
cumb^ni  u|mmi  them  to  declare,  thai  the  British  go- 
vernment  did  not  deny  the  rijj^t  e|  the  Amerieans  to 


;ii.isfe; 


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6 


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the  fisherieH  generally,  or  in  the  «peB  mas;  but  that 
the  privileges  formerly  granted  by  treaty  to  the  Unit- 
ed Btates,  of  il§hing  within  the  limits  of  the  British 
jurisdiction,  and  of  landing  and  drying  fish  on  the 
shores  of  the  British  territories,  would  not  be  renew- 
ed without  an  equivalent 

The  extent  of  what  was  considered  by  them  as  waters 
peculiarly  Britisli,  was  not  stated,  from  the  manner 
in  which  they  brouglit  this  subject  into  view,  they 
seemed  to  wish  us  te  understand,  that  they  wera  nut 
anxious  that  it  should  be  discussed,  and  that  they  only 
intended  to  give  us  notice,  that  these  privileges  had 
ceased  to  exist,  and  would  not  be  again  granted  with- 
out an  equivalent,  nor  unless  we  thought  proper  to 
provide  expressly  in  the  treaty  of  peace  for  their  re- 
newal. ''<A/W5-    .    -    '      ■.■<' 

The  British  commissioners  having  stated,  that  these 
were  all  the  subjects  which  they  intended  to  bring 
forward,  or  to  suggest,  requested  to  be  informed, 
whether  we  were  instructed  to  enter  into  negotiation 
on  these  several  points  ?  and  whether  there  was  any 
amongst  these,  which  we  tliought  it  unnecessary  to 
bring  into  the  negotiation  ?  and  they  desired  us  to 
state,  on  our  part,  such  other  subjects  as  we  might 
intend  to  propose  for  discussion,  in  the  course  of  the 
negotiation.  The  meeting  was  then  adjourned  to  the 
next  day,  in  order  to  aft'ord  us  the  opportunity  of  a 
consultation  among  ourselve8|  before  w«  fiave  an 
answer.  ■■uj*^;*''-:.4.*>'f*v'-  '«i>'.',v-'^''Y'fe»u..-^  ii 

In  the  course  of  the  evening  of  the  same  day,  "we 
i<eceived  your  letters  of  the  Sdth  and  S7th  of  June.^^' 

There  could  be  no  hesitation  on  our  part,  in  inform- 
ing the  British  commissioners  that  we  were  not  in- 
structed on  the  subjects  of  Indian  pacification  or 
boundary,  and  of  fisheries.  Nor  did  it  seem  probable, 
although  neither  of  these  points  had  been  slated  with 
sufficient  precision  in  that  first  verbal  conference,  that 
they  could  be  admitted  in  any  shape.  We  did  not. 
wishy  however,  to  prejudge  the  result,  or  by  any  hasty 


•■i,^^^     !  >^4- 


*1 


proceeding  abruptly  to  break  oiF  the  negotiation.  It 
was  not  impossible  that,  en  the  sudject  of  the  Indiana, 
the  British  government  had  received  erroneous  im- 
pressions from  the  Indian  traders  in  Canada,  which  oav 
representations  might  remove ;  and  it  appeared,  at  all 
events,  important  to  ascertain  distinctly  the  precise  in- 
tentions of  Great  Britain  on  both  points.  We  tlierc- 
fore  thought  it  advisable  to  mvite  the  British  Gom«> 
miasionera  to  a  general  conversation  on  all  the  points; 
stating  to  them  at  the  same  time,  oar  want  of  instruc-*^ 
tions  on  two  of  them,  and  holding  out  no  expectation 
of  the  probability  of  our  agreeing  to  any  article  res- 
pecting these. 

At  our  meeting  on  the  ensuing  day,  we  informed  the 
British  commissioners  that,  upon  the  first  and  third 
points  proposed  by  them,  we  were  provided  with  in- 
structions ;  and  we  presented  as  further  subjects  con- 
sidered by  our  government  as  suitable  for  discussion: 

1.  A  definition  of  blockade,  and  as  far  as  might 
be  mutually  agreed,  of  other  neutral  and  belligeront 
rights ; 

2.  Claims  of  indemnity  in  certain  cases  of  capture 
and  seizure. 

«>  We  then  stated  that  the  two  subjects^  1st,  of  Indian 
pacification  and  boun^lary,  Sdly,  of  Ffsberies,  were  not 
.einbraced  by  u-iv  instructions.  We  observed,  that  as 
tliese  points  had  not  been,  heretofore,  the  grounds  of 
any  controversy  between  the  government  of  Great 
Britain  and  that  of  the  United  States,  and  had  not 
been  alluded  to  by  lord  Castlereagh,  in  his  letter  pro- 
posing the  negotiation,  it  could  not  be  expected  thai, 
they  should  have  been  anticipated  and  made  the  sub- 
ject of  instructions  by  our  government :  that  it  was 
naturally  to  be  supposed  that  our  instructions  were 
confined  to  those  subjects  upon  which  diflerences  be- 
tween the  two  countries  were  known  to  exist ;  and  that 
the  proposition  to  define  in  a  treaty  between  the  Uni- 
ted States  and  Great  Britain,  the  boundary  of^the  lit- 
diaa  possessions  within  oht  own  terrijioriesy  was  new 


^'.T 


I 


I  I 

!( 


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»  [0] 

and  without  example.  No  Hucii  provi§ioii  had  been 
inflerted  in  the  treaty  of  peace  in  1788,  nov  in  any 
other  treaty  between  the  two  countries.  No  such 
provision  had,  to  our  knowledge,  ever  been  inserted  in 
any  trcjity  made  by  Great  Britain,  or  any  otiier  Enro- 
|»ean  power,  in  relation  to  the  same  description  of  peo- 
ple, existing  under  like  circumstances.  We  would 
4a^.  however,  that  it  could  not  be  doubted,  that  peace 
with  the  Indians  would  certainly  follow  a  peace  with 
Great  Britain :  that  we  had  information  that  com- 
missioners had  already  been  appointed  to  treat  with 
them ;  that  a  treaty  to  that  effect  mijiht,  perhaps,  have 
been  already  concluded ;  and  that  the  United  States 
having  no  interest,  nor  any  motive  to  continue  a  sepa- 
rate war  axainst  the  Indians,  there  could  never  be  a 
momeijit  wnen  our  government  would  not  be  disposed 
to  make  peace  with  them.  _ ;' 

We  then  expressed  onr  wish  to  receiViS  from  the 
British  commissioners,  a  statement  of  the  views  and 
objects  of  Great  Britain  upon  all  the  points,  and  our 
wdlingness  to  discuss  them  all,  in  onier  that,  even  if 
no  arrangement  could  be  agreed  on,  upon  the  points 
not  included  in  our  instructions,  the  government  of 
the  United  States  might  be  possessed  of  the  entire 
and  precise  intentions  of  tbi^t  of  G.  Britain,  respect- 
ing these  points,  and  that  the  British  gm'emment 
might  be  fully  informed  of  the  objections,  on  the  part 
of  the  U.  States,  to  any  such  arrangement. 

In  answer  to  our  remark,  that  these  points  had  not 
been  alluded  to  by  lord  Castlereagh  in  his  letter  pi*o. 

Sosing  the  negotiation,  it  was  said,  that  it  could  not 
e  expected,  that  in  a  letter  merely  intended  to  invite 
a  negotiation,  he  should  enumerate  the  topics  of  dis- 
cussion, or  state  the  pretensions  of  his  government ; 
since  these  would  depend  upon  ulterior  events,  and 
might  arise  out  of  a  subsequent  state  of  things. 

in  reply  to  our  observation,  that  the  proposed  sti- 
pulation of  an  Indian  boundary  was  without  example 
in  the  practice  of  European  nations,  it  was  asserted, 


fi 


4 


I 


lad  been 
in  any 
^o  such 
lerted  in 
sr  Enro- 
ll of  peo- 
c  would 
at  peace 
Ace  with 
at  com- 
eat  with 
pS;  have 
id  States 
t  a  §epa- 
irer  be  a 


rom  the 
)ws  and 
and  our 
,  even  if 
e  points 
iment  of 
le  entire 
respect' 
emment 
;he  part 

had  not 
ter  pTO- 
uld  not 
o  invite 
of  dis. 
nment ; 
its,  and 

ed  sti- 
xampU 
serted, 


[6]  « 

that  the  Indiaia  mufi  in  tome  lort  be  coiisldetel  ii 
an  independent  people,  tinoe  treaties  were  made  witti 
then,  both  by  G.  Britain  and  Uy  the  U.  BUtee )  «i^ 
which,  we  pointed  out  the  obvions  and  impertaaft  W 
ference  between  the  treaties  we  might  ttdw  wHll 
Indiitns,  living  in  onr  territory,  and  such  i  tl^^  ii 
was  proposed  to  be  made,  respecting  them>  with  ii 
foreign  power,  who  had  solemnly  acknowledged  tki 
territory,  on  which  they  resided,  to  he  part  ^  llM 
United  States. 

We  were  then  asked  by  the  British  commistloiMli^ 
whether,  in  case  they  should  enter  farther  upon  the 
discussion  of  the  several  points  which  had  been  standi 
we  could  expect  that  it  would  terminate  bjr  some  pro^ 
visional  arrangement  on  the  points  on  which  we  aad 
no  instructions,  particularly  on  that  respeetiiig^  th^ 
Indians,  which  arrangement  would  be  sunject  t9  iho 
ratification  of  our  eovemment  ? 

We  answered,  that  before  the  subjects  were  distimst* 
ly  understood,  and  the  objects  in  view  more  preciseljr 
disclosed,  we  could  not  decide,  whether  it  would  be 
possible  to  form  any  satisfactory  article  on  the  suhr- 
ject;  nor  pledge  ourselves  as  to  the  exerci#6  of  a  dia^ 
cretion  under  our  powers,  even  with  roipect  to  a  pwr- 
Tisional  agreement.  We  added,  that  as  we  should 
deeply  deplore  a  rupture  of  the  negotiation  on  aaV 
point,  it  was  our  anxious  desire  to  employ  all  piisni- 
ble  means  to  avert  an  event  so  gerious  in  ita  conse** 
quence$i  ^  and  that  we  had  not  been  without  hopes 
that  a  discussion  might  correct  the  effect  of  any  erra^ 
neous  information  which  the  British  government  mi^t 
have  received  on  the  subject  winch  they  had  pn^Oi- 
ed  as  a  preliminary  basis. 

^^  We  took  this  opportunity  to  remark,  that  no  nation 
observed  a  policy  more  liberal  and  humane  towards 
the  Indians  than  that  pursued  by  the  U.  States ;  thit 
our  object  had  been,  by  all  practicable  means,  to  ia- 
truduce  civilization  amongst  them ;  that  their  posset 
sions  w»re  seenre^l  to  tfaem  by  well  defined  bound^- 


4''«mmm  mf' 


III 


0 


[«] 


«•.. 


i^    "Si. 


lAm\  tbiit  their  persong^  knds^  and  other  properQ^ 
Dniie  now  more  effectually  protected  against  violence 
«irfi»i|dgfroni  any  ^ulurter^  than  they  had  been  under 
■ay  §ttmm  gfotemment ;  (hat  even,  odr  citizens  were 
M  allowed  to^rchase  their  lands ;  that  when  they 

SkVenptlieIr  title  to  any  portion  of  their  country  to 
,  f  IJ4  litatDs^  it  wa^  by  voluntary  treaty  wHh  our 
I^Mnment,  who  gave  them  a  satisfactonr  equivalent; 
iod  that,  through  these  means,  the  U.  States  had 
•ncceiided  in  preserving,  since  the  treaty  of  Gren* 
jSQg^  in  179^9  iulunihtbmipted  peace  of  16  years 
iiHth  all  the  Indim  tribes — a  period  of  tranquillity 
nim^h  longer  than  they  were  known  to  have  enjoyed 
l^retolbre.        ■  ■ '  r^;v>  •. 

^  It  wae(  then  expressly  stated  on  our  part,  that  the 
ptopodtion  respecting  the  Indians,  was  not  distinctly 
understood.  We  asked  whether  the  paciflcation  ana 
tibe  settlement  of  a  boundary  for  them  were  both  made 
^t^neam  non,^  which  was  answered  in  the  afBrma- 
tive.  The  question  was  then  asked  the  British  com- 
UisiQoners,  whether  the  proposed  Indian  boundary 
Was  Intended  to  preclude  the  United  States  from  the 
lEight  of  purchasing  by  treaty  from  the  Indians,  with- 
out the  consent  of  Great  Britain,  lands  lying  beyond 
that  boundary  ?  and  asurestrictioii  upon  the  Indians 
;4mn;  selling,  by  amicable  treaties,  lands  to  the  Unit- 
id  StAtes,  as  had  been  hitherto  practised  ? 

To  Uiis  question,  it  was  first  answered  by  one  «f 
,lhe  domndssioners,  that  the  Indians  would  not  be  re- 
.idricted  ftom  selling  their  lands,  but  tha4  the  United 
Btaj^  would  be  restricted  from  purchasing  them ; 
Ip^  ffnteflectifin,  another  of  the  commissioners  stated 
that  it  Was  intended  that  the  Indian  territories  should 
b^  a  bwrrier  between  the  British  dominions  and  those 
of  the  United  States ;  that  both  Great  Britain  and  the 
United  Stetes  shtauld  be  restricted  front  prcbasing^ 
Iheir  lands;  but  that  tiie  Indians  might  sell  them  to  a. 
tl#d  party.     "    , .-  ■  ■:•  '^^fMP?i 


,. ,-  <V,' 


•n-  ■.■  ..^  •■ 


violence 
«  under 
ns  were 
en  they 
nn^ry  to 
pHh  our 
ivalent; 
tes  had 
Oren* 
6  yean 
iqaillity 
enjoyed 

that  the 

istinctly 

Ition  and 

>th  made 

aiBnna- 

ish  COJDD- 

oundary 
from  the 
18,  with- 
;  beyond 
Indians 
lie  Unit- 

■  tf 

r  one  «f 
)t  be  re« 
!  United 
;  them; 
rs  stated 
9  should 
sd  those 
and  the 
rcbasing 
lem  to  a 


^■%: 


m 


<P¥ 


The  proposition  respeeting  Indian  bmmdity  tti| 
explained^  and  connected  with  the  right  of  sovereigo^ 
ty  ascribed  to  the  Indians  over  the  country,  ameoiiitiid 
to  nothing  less  than  a  demand  of  the  absolute  (fMsiiHI 
of  the  rights  both  of  sovereignty  and  of  soiL.  W# 
cannot  abstain  from  remarking  to  you,  that  tlKB  subf 
jeet  (of  Indian  boundary)  was  indistinctly  stated  #hei| 
first  {proposed,  and  that  the  explanations  were  at  flrit 
oh^iiVeaiid  always  given  with  retuetaiice:  And|t 
was  declared  from  the  first  moment,  to  be  a  ^ne'm^ 
non  rendering  a»*y  discussion  nkiprofftable,  uiitit  p 
was  admitted  as  u  basis.  I^nowing  thiU  we  hAd^w 
powerto  cede  to  the  Indians  any  part  of  our.ierri|t(M(yi 
we  thought  it  unnecessary  to  ask,  what  pf^^|i^l^ 
Would  hot  Have  been  answered  M  the  ptin^l^^as 
admitted,  where  the  line  of  demarkation  j^t&lmiiM- 
an  country  was  proposed  to  be  established? 
'  The;  British  commissioners^  after  having  repeatddi 
that  their  instructions  on  the  subject  of  t^  In^iina 
were  peremptory,  stated  that,  unless  ^e  conld  ^Ve 
some  assurance  that  our  powers  would  allow  usfff 
make  at  least  a  provisional  aiTahgement  on  ^^e  siih- 
ject,  any  farther  dilcussion  would  be  firuitlci^,  and 
that  they  must  consult  their  own  government  on  this 
state  of  things.  They  proposed  accordingly  a  sus- 
pension of  the  conferences,  until  they  should  nave  re* 
ceived  an  answer,  it  being  understood  that  each  par^ 
might  call  a  meeting  whenever  they  had  any  propoaf* 
tion  to  submit.  They  despatched  a  spedal  measen* 
ger  thesame  evening,  and  w6  are  now  waiting  for  thii 
result.  -*    V 

Before  the  proposed  adjournment  took  place,  it  was 
agreed  that  there  should  be  a  protocol  of  the  conferen- 
ces ;  thata,  statement  should  for  that  purpose  be  drawn 
op  by  each  party,  and  that  we  should  meet  the  liexit 
day  to  compare  the  statements.  We  aceordingiiy  mel 
again  on  Wednesday  the  iOth  inst.  and  ultimatebr  Ji« 
greed  upon  what  should  constitute  the  protocol  oltfai 


V/J... 


'.;*,■■*  i» 


■*^- 


«»W»» 


3#««s  ;.'er 


'i! 


li 


i\ 


.  <•' 


^■1^ 


'* 


E«l 


VT'.-' 


?jf.- 


^pvnfeiflicea*  A  co^  of  thu  intttfimieDt  we  batse  the 
iMHier  to  tnuMmit  wiOifhM  despatch  $  and  ve  also  in^ 
idiM^  acopy  of  the  statement  oorigiBally  drawn  i|p  on 
f^Hr  pfu-ty  for  the  purpose  of  maliding  known  to  vgu^  the 
jf^ffngtBiiti  whientlie British  commissioners objeeted. 
Tmir  oljection  to  some  of  the  passages  was,  that 
(bey  W«md  to  be  argumentative^i  and  that  the  oh- 
jed  oithe  protocol  was  to  contain  a  mere  statement  of 
IMs.  They  however  objected  to  the  insertion  of  the 
iiuiwer  which  they  had  given  to  onr  question  respect- 
^g  the  efect  of  the  piroposed  Indian  boundary;  but 
lili^  agreed  to  an  altern^Mm  of  their  odginal  proposi- 
fiim  onthftt  subject,  which  renders  it  much  more  ex- 
tttoit  thftQ  as  stivtedy  either  in  the  first  conference,  or 
b^lir  proposed  draught  of  the  protocol  They  also 
lllfP!l|.t»  tbe  insertion  of  theftiet  that  they  had  pro- 
posed to  ad||oum  the  conferences,  until  they  eould  ob. 
liiii  fhrtber  instructions  from  their  government.  The 
letarm  of  thc^  messenger  may  perhaps  disclose  the 
HQlitrar  of  their  rehictance  in  that  respect. 

•' ,  We  liave  the  honor  to  be,  ftc.    '  ^ 

JOHN  QUINCY  ADAMS^ 
|.  A.  BAYABJP,  t' 

lONATHAN  BUSBELL: 


"^" '  ■ 


BMi^ti^^nmnaiproheel  made  by  tke,imeTican 
mintBt&n,  of  the  two  first  co^ference»  held  with 
MriM  eomnrnmnaii^*  % 


II 


^as^ 


Ai  a  meeting  between  the  commissioners  of  his 
■Ifimivee^,  and  ihoiei  of  the  United  Btates  of 

Mid  «l  mmaif  August  8^  i^%  the  foUowbg  points 
wtA^  |frenevted  1^  the  eommission^w,  on  the  part  of 
Chreat  Brttain^  as  subjects  for  discussion. 


ftlp.  '^.V 


'M 


,^;-- 


H' 


-%  The  foceiUe  fdiKUfe  of  auvinenr  mi  lioadl  ff 
itterehant  vessels,  wmd  tbe  ckuH  of  aHeg^Auce  of  !# 
Britannic  majeat;^  upon  all  the  native  bom  snbjeeli 
of  Great  Britain. 
3.  The  Indian  allies  of  Great  Britain  to  be  tnchMl. 

ed  in  the  pacification^  and  a  bonndary  to  be  cM^ttled 
between  the  dominions  of  the  Indians^  and^iosem 
the  United  States.  Both  parts  of  this  point  ire  eoa^ 
aldered  by  theBdlish  govieRimeiit  as  a  sine  qua  mom 
to  the  conclusion  of  &  treaty.  > 

3.  The  revision  of  tife  benndary  line  betweem  the 
ierritoriesot  the  United  Btates,  aiid  ^oseitf  QtotM|t 
Britun  adjoiniug  them  in  North  America.  ^^ 

4$.  The  fisheries — respeetiiig  which>.  the  Miiii 

§»veninent  will  not  allow  the  people  of  ^le  Uinie^ 
tates  the  privile^of  landing  and  drying  fish^wttfain 
the  territorial  jonsdiction  of  Great  BritAin^  wtftlidift 
an  equiVwlent.  -..t 

The  American  commissioners  weresiB^[«ested  ^ 
say,  whether  their  instructions  from  their  |OTetii«NMl 
authorized  them  to  tceat  upon  these  several  poidta ; 
and  to  state,  on  tlieir  part,  such  other  pdnts  as  ihiif 
mi^  be  further  instructed  to  prwnose  for  discussioil. 
The  meeting  ,w^  adjourned  to  Tuesday,  the  dtb  of 
AuffUst,  on  whlch^day  tilie  commbsioners  met  agi&ii. 
<  The  American  oeinmissfoneTs,  a,t  this  me^oi^ 
stated,  that  upbn  iba  first  and  third  poincs  proposed 
by  the  British  commissioners,  they  were  provided 
with  instructions  from  their  government ;  and  that  on 
the  second  and  fourth  of  those  points,  there  not  Inur- 
ing existed,  heretofore^  any  differences  between  the 
two  governments,  they  had  not  been  anticipated  tor 
the  government  of  the  U.  Statics,  and  were  theretbfo 
ittot  provided  for  in  their  instructions.  lUiat  in  rela- 
tion to  an  Indian  j^oifiication,  they  knew  that  ^e  fib* 
vwnmentof  the  u.  States  had  appoinied  comaiiw^ 
signers  to  treat  of  peace  wiUi  the  Indians;  and'thht 
It  was  not  improbable  (hat  peace  had  been  mado^ 
with  ihem. 


# 


*i'v9"^'Vf^  >,'  vii'i 


•♦  •'■''„ 


}  . 


4 


•    -..H'.''^ 


■  .'i- 


>rv; 


c»y 


.^■w.;.«.'-«^y . 


I' 


i 


The  Americftn  commissioners  presented,  as  farther 
points  (subjects),  considered  by  the  government  o^ 
the  U.  States,  as  suitable  for  discussion. 

1.  A  definition  of  blockade,  and,  as  far  as  may  be* 
agreed,  of  other  n^tral  and  belligerent  riglvts. 

t.  Certain  claims  of  indemnity  to  individuals,  for 
Captures  and  seizures  preceding  and  snbse^ent  to 
the  war. 

3.  They  further  stated,  that  there  were  various 
other  points  to  which  their  instructions  extended, 
which  might  with  propriety  be  objects  of  discussion^ 
either  in  the  n^otiation  of  the  peace,  or  in  thut  of  a 
treaty  of  commerce,  which,  in  the  case  of  a  propitious 
iermiiiation  of  the  present  conferences,  they  were 
likewise  authorized  to  conclude.  That  for  the  pur- 
pose  of  facilitating  the  first  and  most  essential  objett 
of  peace,  they  had  discarded  every  subject  which  was 
not  considered  as  peculiarlyconnected  with  that;  and 
presented  only  those  points  which  appeared  to  be 
immediately  relevant  to  this  negotiation. 

The  American  commissioners  expressed  their  wish 
to  receive  ffom  the  British  commissioners  a  statement 
of  the  views  and  objects  of  6.  Bi^tain,  upon  idfl  the 
p<4ut^  and  their  willingness  to  discuss  them  all,  in 
order  that,  if  no  arrangemont.  could  be  ap^eed  to, 
upon  the  points  not  in  ^etr  instructions,  which  would 
come  within  the  scope  of  the  powerl  committed  to 
their  discretion,^  the  government  of  the  U.  States 
might  be  put  in  possession  of  the  entire  and  precise 
intentions  of  that  of  6.  Britain,  with  regard  to  such 
points;  and  that  the  British  government  might  be 
folly  infDrmed  of  the  objections  on  the  part  of  the 
U.  States  to  any  such  arrangement. 

They,  the  American  commissioners,  were  asked^ 
whether,  if  those  of  O.  Britain  should  enter  fhrthet 
npon  the  discussion,  particularly  Fespecting  the  In- 
miMk  boundary,  the  American  commissioners  could 
expect  that  it  would  toi^inate  by  some  provisional 
arrangement,  which  they  could  conclude,  subject  to 
the  ratificiition  of  their  government? 


i- 


M 


m 


Imi 


'nment  o( 

«  may  ht 
is. 

duals,  for 
i(pitni  to 

variom 
ixtetided, 
scussioQ. 
that  of  a 
ropitiom 
ey  were 
the  pur- 
al  obfett 
Mch  was 
bat;  and 
id  to  be 

eir  wisb 
tatemeiit 
1 1^  the 
n  a]],  in 
*e«|  to, 
i  would 
itted  to 
States 
preeiso 
to  such 
ight  be 
of  the 


asked^ 
f^irtber 
be  in- 
coold 
isionai 
ject  to 


H* 


They  ans^^red^  tbf  t  as  piny  anrfiQgement  to  iihicli 
they  coutd  iligree  upon  tbe  subjigct^  milst  be  without 
speciic  anthority  from  their  government,  H  waifliot 
possible  for  them,  pifeviouii  to  dlscu««|oi|,  io  defBi4/||^ 
whether  an  artieU  M  the  mi^ect  coiild  be  forilif)|^ 
which  would  be  mutually  satisfiiictory,  and.  to  wh|^' 
they  should  think  themaelves,  under  tb«)ir  diiK^tipii- 
«Eyjpowers,  ju8t|fiied  in  aoGeding. 

Th^JIriUsb  cpiainissioners  declined  entering  iipont' 
the  discussion,, unless  the  American  conrailtsioner* 
would  say  that  they  coBjsidered  it  within  their  dis- 
cretion to  indi;e  a  provisional  arrangeniient  on  |he 
subject^  conformable  to  the  view  of  it  (irescBibed  by 
the  British  government,  and  proposed  toadioum  tiib'. 
conferences,  for  the  purpose  of  coi^ulting  ueir  own 

governifiient  on  this  state  of  things. 

The  Britifih  commisidon^rs  were  asko^j  wbether  it 
was  understood,  a^  an  effect  of  the  proposed  boiinda- 
ly  for  the  !|[ndians,  that  the  United  States  would  be^ 
precluded  from  the  right  of  purchasing  territory  from 
t^^  Indians  within  that  boundary,  by  amicable  ffeaiy- 
with  the  Indian!^  themselves,  withotit  the  consent  of 
Great  Britain?  and  whether  it  was  understood  to 
operate  as  a  restriction  upon  the  Indians,  from  selling, 
by  such  amicable  treaties,  lands  to  the  United  States, 
as  has  been  hitherto  practised. 

They  answered,  that  it  was  understood,  that  the 
Indian  territories  should  be  a  barrier  between  tbe 
British  possessions  and  those  of  the  United  States  $ 
that  tbe  United  States  and  Great  Britain  should  both 
be  restricted  from  such  purchased  of  lands;  but  that 
the  Indians  would  not  be  restricted  from  selling  thenl 
to  any  third  party. 

.^  The  meeting  was  adjourned  to  Wednesday,  IQth 
of  August. 


ti" 


True 


CODV. 


iJ*lj»Tt' 


■■3*» 


C.  HUGHES,  Jr. 

Secretary  toji^g^^l^aion  Extraordinary, 


»'  _      .4  »-,*■ 


>.    ^  r 


# 


m 


Tnftocol  of  C&nference,  Jtugwt  Sth,  Idli^^ 


TlieBrkMh  uid  Atterican  cotmalMkm^n  hiiviiig 
viel,  ^i«ir  foil  powen  were  r^apttMvtAy  produced^ 
yhith  were  foaiid  naiinhcifxty,  and  copies  thcii^of 
WeM  exebaai^ed. 

^bn  Bdtisk  OomniisBiotiera  stated  the  following 
•al]jeeta,a8thoseupoB  whkli,itliippeifred  tothem^  tbiS 
Hie  iisettssioms  between  themmlVes^  i,M  the  American 
^minisskiners,  would  be  likely  to  torn. 

1;  The  fi^velble  seizure  of  mariners  ^m  on  board 
ilMi^ant  ships  on  the  high  seas,,  ahd  in  connection 
WHhit,  ^e  right  of  the  king  of  Chreat  Britain  to  the 
ttHegianee  Of  alibis  native  subjects. 
'  S.  That  tlie  peace  be  ejtti;(ided  to  the  Indian  allies 
of  Ghreat  Britain,  and  that  the  boundary  of  their  terri- 
tory be  definitively  marked  out,  as  a  permanent  barrier 
between  the  dominions  of  Great  Britain  and  the  Unit- 
ed Staites.  An  arrangement  on  this  subject  to  be  a 
^0  qua  noff  of  a  treaty  of  peace. 

8.  A  revision  of  the  boundary  line  between  the 
BritieAi  and  American  territories,  with  the  view  to 
prevent  fttture  uncertainty  and  dispute. 

The  British  commissioners  requested  information^ 
whether  the  American  commissioners  were  instructed 
to  enter  into  negotiation  oh  the  abbVe  points?  Btit 
before  they  desired  any  answer,  they  felt  it  right  to 
communicate  the  intentions  of  their  government,  an 
to  the  North  American  fisheries,  viz:  That  the  Bri:- 
tish  govemmtnt  did  not  intend  to  grant  to  the  United 
Btates,  gratuitously,  tl^e  privileges  formerly  granted 
by  treaty  to  them,  of  fishing  within  the  limits  of  the 
British  soverei^ty,  and  of  using  the  shores  of  the 
British  territories  for  purposes  connected  with  the 
flfi^eries. 


■<'-'S- 


0^1«      A  TT^TTftT   ' 


The  meeting  being  adjourned  to  the  9th  of  August, 
the  commisBioners  metag^in  on  that  day. 


in  buying 
produced^ 
fes  thcii^of 

;*  *     ■  ' .      ,     ' 

following 
thetn^  that 
American 

I  tin  board 
^nection 
lin  to  the 

lian  allies 
heirterri- 
int  barrier 
the  Uni^. 
:ttobe  a 

ween  the 
e  view  to 

Drmatidln. 

ostroctea 
its?  Birt 
''  rigfit  to 
im^nt,aji 
the  Bri- 

le  United 
'  granted 
its  of  the 
esof  the 
ivith  ^e 


■!f;»pj 


*a 


The  American  cominissionen  at  this  meetiiig^^ 
^d,  tbiit  upon  the  first  aitid  thhrd  poikitg^wj^"' 
the  British  commissioners,  they  we^  |iioVfded 
instractioi|8  from  ttieir  government;  aind  t)lM  tie 
cotid  and  fbnrth  of  these  points,  were  not  pi#itr 
^or  in  their  instruptions*  That  in  relatiim  io  ail 
dian  pficification,  tliey  knew  that  the  goveikmeilf^ 
t)ie  United  States  had  appointed  ebmmlssimic^  il 
trelit  of  |)eace  with  the  Indians;  and  that  j;  wifi.i^ 
improbable  that  peace  had  been  made  wit&^^mJ  :';^ 

The  American  CQjpimissioiiers  presentetl  iMt  Jl^w 
subjects,  conside«e4  by  the  government  ol  the  United 
States,  as  suitable  for  discussion; 

1.  A  definitioii  of  blockade,  and  osf;^  48  |niyr%^ 
agreed,  olT  other  neutral  and  bel%erent  ri^tii! 

S.  Certain  elaims  to  indemnity  for  eaptnret  anil 
seizures  preceding  and  subsequent  to  the  war. 

3.  They  further  stated,  ^that  there  were  vliiioii* 
other  points,  to  which  tfaeir  instructions  extend!^, 
which  might  with  propriety  be  objects  <^d}sciiii)f|% 
eitlier  in  the  negotiation  of  the  peace,  or  in  that  of  a 
treaty  oJt  commerce;  which,  in  the  ease  of  a  prq^iti- 
ous  termination  of  the  present  conferences,  they  were 
likewise  authorized  to  conclude.  That  fbr  thei|j|[|B}> 
pose  of  facilitating  the  first  and  most  essential  o%eet 
of  peace,  they  had  discarded  every  S9bi^  Wl^ 
Was  not  considered  as  pecuTUriy  connect^  W^h  jtiia^ 
and  presented  only  those  points  which  ap^aired  t^ 
be  immediately  relevant  to  this  negotia^^;*. 

The  American  commissioners  ei^presiB^d  their  wU|i 
to  receive  fhim  the  British  Commissif»ne%  il  ^ll^ 
ment  of  the  views  and  objects  of  0r$at  Britain  up^ 
all  the  points,  and  their  willingness  tqt  ^scuaa  uea 

ai'* 

They,  the  American  commissioners,  were  asVe^, 


buuBc  U4   n^icab   xviiuiiu  auuMiu  cuusr  lar- 


Augu^ 


ther  upon  this  discussion,  particularly  respecting  tlif 
Indian  boundary,  the  American  commissioners  conla 

3 


i--# 


<     /> 


-ih;, 


>"\ 


I 


-* 


:'^«,. 


0^ 


tfqfi^  iM,  it  would  terminate  by  lome  provUiqnal 
iujif  wliiph  tley  could  e^ncIaUe,  subject  to 
lUoB  of*  their  ^verameut? 
^l0  aof  veered,  that  a^  any  arran^m^ut  to  which 
{^  e9^1d  l^gree  upon  the  soliject,  n^ustbe  without 
sp^ifc  imihority  from  their  ^yemment,  it  was  not 
npif^t)1|^  nnr  th^  previous  to  difcussiou*  to  decide 
Ipj^tliif^a^  allele  W  ^l^  subject  could  be  formed 
w|]|i9^  l^QuI^  niutually  satis&ctory,  and  to  which 
they  fit(({uld  thiuk  themselves^  under  ttieir  discretion^ 
^^w;er8|jnstii|ed  in  acceding. 

The  meeting  was  adjourned.  -' 

True  copy, 

(Signed)  C.  HUGHES,  Jr.        J 

%«,-#,  Secretarif  of  Legation, 


tjICsfffrf.  4l^ntff,  Sayardf  Chy,  Mussellf  and  Galla- 

Ghent,  19th  August,  18U.     ^ 


** 


8B% 

'  ' '  Mt.  Biike^,  ^cretary  to  the  British  mission, 
iM^ed  upofi  us  to-day  at  one  o'clock,  and  invited  us  to 
^"cOi^rence  to  be  held  at  three.  This  was  agreed 
to,  and  the  Britishcommissioners  opened  it  by  saying^ 
Ipiat  they  ^ad  received  their  further  instructions  this 
M^bMii^  and  had  not  lost  a  moment  in  requesting  a 
nieefingfor  ^he  purpose  of  communicating  the  decision 
elf '^enr  government;  It  is  proper  to  notice  that  Ic^ 
Cistlere'aighhad  arrived  last  night  in  tliis  city,  whence, 
ijt  19  said,  he  will  depart  to-morrow  on  his  way  to 
Bi^lelsiipdyiehna.'  \^ 

^'xhe  Bntish  commissioners  stated  that  their  gov- 
had  lelt  some  surprise  that  we  were  not  iu^ 


m 


iB 


visional 

bJQCt  tO! 

o  which 
without 

decide 
formed 

which 
cretiojtu 


Oallal 


i 


9 


lissioii^ 
A  us  to 

agreed 
laying, 
Ds  this 
sting  a 
scision 
itlo^ 
hence^ 
»^ay  to 

rgov- 


stnicted  respecting  the  Indians,  as  it  ciiuld  not  hiire 
been  expected  that  they  would  leave  their  alli«%  filk 
tlieir  comparatively  weak  situation,  exposed  to  omrt^- 
sentment.  Great  Britain  might  justlv  have  ftnf^ipoied 
I  that  the  American  government  would  have  fiiralthtii 
us  with  instructions  authorizing  us  to  agree  toanoii* 
tive  article  on  the  subject ;  hut  the  least  she  eonld  vi«. 
mand  was,  that  we  should  sign  a  provisional  artlch^ 
admitting  the  principle,  subject  to  the  ratlficftiioiinif  ^mr 
government  $  so  that,  if  it  should  be  ratified  thb  tftia* 
ty  should  take  effect ;  and  if  not,  that  it  shoiiM  IM 
null  and  void :  on  our  assent  or  refusal  to  ad'm^  such 
an  article  would  depend  the  continuance  or  iiiBpeiit 
sion  of  the  negotiation. 

As  we  had  represented  that  the  proposition  made 
by  them,  on  that  subject,  was  not  sufficiently  explicit 
their  government  had  directed  them  to  ^sive  ni  eveiy 
necessary  explanation,  and  to  state  distinctly  the  ba- 
sis which  must  be  considered  as  an  indispensable  |^- 
liminary. 

It  was  a  aine  qua  non  that  the  Indians  sbonM  he 
included  in  the  p<iciflcation>  and,  as  incident  tiier^ 
that  the  boundaries  of  their  territodeBvshonld  be^|«F' 
manently  established.  Peace  With  the  Indians  wtoik 
subject  so  simple  as  to  require  no  comment  With  i^ 
spect  to  the  boundary  which  was  to  divide  their  U/ec^ 
iory  from  that  of  the  United  States,  the  object  cf  ilJe 
British  government  was,  that  the  Indians  sfaoiddi%K 
main  as  a  permanent  barrier  between  our  Westeite  aet- 
tlements  and  the  ailjacent  British  provinces,  to  pint* 
vent  them  from  being  conterminous  to  cjach  other : 
and  that  neither  the  United  States  nor  Ortei  Brihuh 
should  ever  hereafter  have  the  right  to^^urcbase  or  ae« 
quire  any  part  of  the  territory  thus  recognized  as  be. 
longing  to  the  Indians.  With  regard  to  the  extelit «! 
the  Indian  territory,  and  the  bdundacyline,  the  British 
government  would  propose  the  lines  of  the  O^reenvifie 
treaty,  as  a  propBr  basis,  s&l^ect  however  io  ^^s&m>. 
miiiftnr 


to 


m 


gto 


We  statedy  that  tlie  Indian  torritury,  accordin^ 
these  lines,  would  comprahcnd  a  graat  number  uf 
American  citizens ;  not  less,  perhaps,  than  a  hundred 
thousand :  and  asked,  what  was  the  intention  of  the 
British  government  respecting  them,  and  under  whose 
government  they  would  fall  ?  It  was  answerad  that 
those  settlements  would  be  taken  into  consideration 
when  the  line  became  a  subject  of  discussion ;  but  that 
such  of  the  inhabitants  as  would  ultimately  be  includ- 
ed within  the  Indian  ^ territory,  roust  make  their  own 
arrangements,  and  provide  for  themselves. 

The  British  commissioners  here  said,  that  con- 
sidering  the  importance  of  the  question  we  had  to 
decide,  (that  of  agreeing  to  a  provisional  article)  their 
government  had  thought  it  right,  that  we  should  also 
be  fully  informed  of  its  views  with  respect  to  the 
proposed  revision  of  the  boundary  line  between  the 
dominions  of  Great  Britain  and  the  United  States. 

1.  Experience  had  proved  that  the  joint  possession 
of  the  lakes,  and  a  right,  common  to  both  nations,  to 
keep  up  a  naval  force  on  them,  necessarily  produced 
collisions,  and  rendered  peace  insecure.  As  O.  Britain 
oonld  not  be  supposed  to  expect  to  make  conquests  in 
that  quarter,  and  as  that  province  was  essential  ly  weak. 
er  than  the  United  States,  and  exposed  to  invasion,  it 
was  necessary  for  its  security  that  Great  Britain 
•hould  require  that  the  United  States  should  here, 
after  keep  no  armed  naval  force  on  the  western  lakes, 
from  lake  Ontario  to  lake  Superior,  both  inclusive ; 
that  they  should  not  erect  any  fortified  or  military  post 
or  establishment  on  the  shores  of  those  lakes ;  and 
that  they  shoiild  not  maintain  those  which  were  alrea^ 
dy  existing.  This  must,  they  said,  be  considered  as 
a  moderate  demand,  since  Great  Britain,  if  she  had 
not  disclaimed  the  intention  of  any  increase  of  territo- 
ry, might,  with  propriety,  have  asked  a  cession  of  the 
adjaeent  American  shores.  The  commercial  navi- 
gation and  intercourse  would  be  left  on  the  same  foot- 
ing as  heretofore.    It  was  expressly  stated  (in  an. 


to 

'  pe^ 
to 


-% 


■:l 


-*-  -.c_.k,i..-; 


-  ■■      H.   • 


m 


] 


cordin*;  to 
tiumber  uf 
a  hundred 
ion  of  the 
ider  whose 
fGVGd  that 
sideration 
t ;  but  that 
be  includ- 
their  own 

that  con- 
e  had  to 
icle)  their 
ould  also 
ct  to  the 
ween  the 
i  States, 
ossession 
itions;  to 
iroduced 
i^.  Britain 

Buests  in 
yweak- 
asion,  it 
Britain 
d  bere- 
'u  lakes, 
elusive ; 
iry  post 
!s;  and 
e  alreaw 
ered  as 
ihe  had 
lerrito- 
1  of  the 
1  navi- 
le  foot, 
(in  AH. 


er  to  a  question  we  asked)  that  Great  Britain  wai 

retain  the  right  of  having  an  armed  naval  force  on 

hose  lakes,  and  of  lioldiug  military  posts  and  e«- 

ablishments  on  their  shores. 

2.  The  boundary  line  west  of  lake  Superior,  and 

||]ience  to  the  Mississippi,  to  be  revised,  and  the 

I  treaty.right  of  Great  Britain  to  the  navigation  of  th^ 

;'!Mississippi  to  be  continued.  When  asked  whether  they 

idid  not  mean  the  line  fi'om  the  Lake  of  the  Woods 

^:^o  the  Mississippi?  the  British  commissioners  re- 

'  ipeated,  that  they  meant  the  line  from  lake  Superior 

■i  to  that  river. 

I  3.  A  direct  communication  from  Halifax  and  the 
^<  province  of  New  Brunswick  toQ^uebec,  to  be  secured 
4  to  Great  Britain.  In  answer  to  our  question,  in  what 
i^  manner  this  was  to  be  effected?  we  were  told  that  it 
must  be  done  by  a  cession  to  Great  Britain  of  that 
portion  of  the  district  of  Maine  (in  the  state  of  Mas- 
sachusetts) which  intervenes  between  New  Bruns- 
wick and  (Quebec,  And  prevents  that  direct  communi- 
»5|  cation. 

Reverting  to  the  proposed  provisional  article,  re- 
^  specting  the  Indian  pacification  and  boundary,  the 
>i  British  commissioners  concluded  by  stating  to  us, 
f  that  if  tlie  conferences  should  be  suspended  by  our 
..  refusal  to  agree  to  such  an  article,  without  having 
lif  obtained  further  instructions  from  our  government, 
*-  Great  Britain  would  not  consider  hei-self  bound  to 
I  abide  by  the  terms  which  she  now  oflPered,  but  would 
I  be  at  Ubevty  to  vaiy  and  regulate  her  demands,  ac- 
1  cording  to  subsequent  events,  and  in  such  manner  as 
I  the  state  of  the  war,  at  the  time  of  renewing  the  ne- 
gotiations, might  warrant 

I  We  asked  whether  the  statement  made,  respecting 
the  proposed  revision  of  the  boundary  line  between 
the  United  States  and  the  dominions  of  Great  Bri- 
tain, embraced  all  the  objects  she  meant  to  bring  for- 
ward  for  discussion,  and  what  were,  particularly,  her 
views  withjesDecttQLjsJflft?!^  island,  and  such  other 


ii'i 


Islands  in  tlie  hay  of  Passamaquoddy  as  had  ticen  in 
our  possession  till  tho  present  ^var.  but  had  been 
lately  captured?  We  were  answertd,  that  those 
islands  belonging  of  ri^ht  to  Great  Britain  (as  much 
fOy  one  of  t' e  commissioners  said,  as  Northampton- 
shire) they  would  certainly  be  kept  by  her,  and  were 
not  even  supposed  to  be  an  ol>ject  of  discussion. 

From  the  forcible  manner  in  which  the  demand, 
that  the  United  States  should  keep  no  naval  arir>  < '  I 
force  on  the  lakes,  nor  any  military  post  on  thcrr 
shores,  had  been  brought  forward,  we  wee  'm  r'ced 
to  inquire  whether  «this  condition  was  also  lueb  a  as  a 
fine  qua  non  f  To  this  the  British  commissioners  de- 
ielined  giving  a  positive  answer,  l^hey  said  that 
they  had  been  sufficiently  explicit,  that  they  had  giv. 
en  ua  one  stits  9101  non,  and  when  we  had  disposed 
of  that,  it  would  be  time  enough  to  give  us  an  an- 
swer  as  to  another. 

We  then  stated,  that,  considering  the  natui^  and 
importance  of  vhe  communication  made  this  day,  we 
wished  the  British  commissioners  to  reduce  their  pn>- 
posals  to  writine,  before  we  gave  them  an  answer. 
This  they  agreed  to,  and  promised  to  send  us  an 
i>IBcial  note  without  delay. 

'  We  need  hardly  say,  that  the  demands  of  Great 
Britain  will  receive  from  us  an  unanimous  and  decid- 
ed negittive.  We  do  not  deem  it  necessary  to  detain 
the  John  Adams  for  the  purpose  of  transmitting  to 
yon  the  official  notes  which  m^;  pn^^  on  the  subject, 
and  close  the  .egotiation.  Ai4  '  '^ive  fel  *'  our 
duty  immediately  to  apprize  ,  nij,  this  hast^,  but 
correct  sketch  of  our  last  conference,  that  there  is  not, 
at  present,  any  hope  of  peace. 

We  have  the  honor  to  be,  ftc. 
(Sisned)  JOHN  QUINCY  ADAMI^ 

J.  A.  BAYARD, 
H.  CLAY, 

JONATHAN  RUSSELL, 
ALBERT  OALLATIN.  ^ 


m 


i  had  ficen  \ik 
•ut  hud  been 
\f  thftt  those 
aiD  (ai  much 
rorthampton- 
ler,  and  were 
ussion. 
the  demand^ 
naval  arir  I 
lOst  or>  thw  r 
'e.-e  *M  .'ced 

0  uieb  ti  a«  a 
issioners  de- 
By  said  that 
hex  had  giv. 
lad  disposed 
^e  us  an  an. 

natui^  and 
his  day,  we 
:e  their  pn>- 

an  answer. 

send  us  an 

ds  of  Great 

1  and  decid- 
ry  to  detain 
isnitting  to 
the  subject, 

feV  *'  our 
hast^,  but 
iiere  is  not, 

e,  &c. 
ADAMS> 


ATIN. 


mP.  B.  AogasttOtl    i814.     We  have  this  wmnei^l 
reived  the  note  of  the  British  eommiiMoners,  whkh 
_  been  promised  to  us,  b(  aring  date  yestt^rday,  a 
>y  of  wnich  we  have  the  honor  to  enclose. 


JV*ot«  if  the  British  Commisiionen, 

The  undersigned;  plenipotentiiiries  of  his  Britannic 
Inajesty,  do  themselves  the  honor  of  acquainting  the 
ilenipotentiaries  of  the  United  States,  that  they  have 
ommunicated  to  their  court  the  result  of  the  confer- 
ince  which  they  had  the  honor  of  holding  wl^  them 
pon  the  9th  inst.  in  which  they  stated  that  they  were 
nprovided  with  any  specific  instructions  asto  compre- 
ending  the  Indian  nations  in  a  treatv  of  peace  to  be 
ade  with  Great  Britian,  and  as  to  denning  a  bound  a- 
to  the  Indian  territory. 

Xhe  undersigned  are  instructed  to  acouaint  the 
ilenipotentiaries  of  the  United  Btates,  that  bis  maje^- 
y 's  government  having>  at  the  outset  of  the  negotiation^ 
k^ith  a  view  to  a  speedy  restoration  of  peace,  reduced 
8  far  as  possible  the  nuiuber  of  points  to  be  discussed^ 
d  having  professed  themselves  willing  to  foreeo  on 
me  important  topics  any  stipulation  to  the  advan- 
ge  of  Great  Britain,  cannot  but  feel  some  surpriso 
at  the  government  of  the  United  States  should  not 
ave  furnished  their  plenipotentidries  with  instruc- 
ons  upon  those  points  which  could  haidly  fail  to 
me  under  discussion. 

Untler  the  inability  of  the  American  plenipo- 
entiarie«  to  conclude  any  article  upon  the  subject 
If  Indian  pacification  and  Indian  boundary,^hich 
iball  bind  the  government  of  the  United  States, 
^s  majesty's  governnieui  conceive  that  they  can- 
lot  give  a  better  proof  of  their  sincere  desire  for 


'■& 


^  Kv. 


■:'"  m  .?■ 


<ii-. 


ike  restoration  of  peace  than  hj  professing  their  wil- 
lingness to  accept  a  provisional  article  upon  those 
beads,  in  the  event  of  the  American  plenipotentiaries 
considering  themselves  authorized  to  accede  to  the 
general  principles  upon  which  such  an  article  ought 
to  be  founded.  With  a  view  to  enable  the  American 
plenipotentiaries  to  decide  bow  far  the  conclusion  of 
such  an  iirticle  is  within  the  limit  of  their  general  dis- 
cretion, the  undersigned  are  directed  to  state  fuU.y  and 
distinctly  the  bases  upon  which  alone  Great  Britain 
sees  any  prospect  of  advantage  in  the  continuance  of 
the  negotiations  at  the  present  time.        ^^^^  a  -^i^s 

The  undersigned  have  already  had  tKc  iionor  of 
stating  to  the  American  plenipotentiaries  that  in  con- 
sidering the  points  above  referrecl  to  as  a  sine  qua 
noh  of  any  treaty  of  peace,  the  view  of  the  British 
government  is  the  permanent  tranquillity  and  security 
of  the  Indian  nations,  anc^  the  prevention  of  those 
jealousies  and  irritations  to  which  the  frequent  altera- 
tion of  the  Indian  limits  has  heretofore  given  rise. 

For  this  purpose  it  is  indispensably  necessary  that 
the  Indian  nations,  who  ha.ve  been  during  the  war  in 
alliance  with  Great  Britain,  should,  at  the  termi^ailon 
of  the  war,  be  included  in  the  pacification.  V^  r 
>^-  It  is  equally  necessary  that  a  definite  boundary 
should  be  assigned  to  the  Indians,  and  that  the  con- 
tracting parties  should  guarantee  the  integrity  of  their 
territory  by  a  mutual  stipulation  not  to  acquire  by 
purchase,  or  otherwise,  any  territory  within  the  speci- 
fied limits.  The  British  government  are  willing  to 
take  as  the  basis  of  an  article  on  this  subject,  those 
stipulations  of  the  treaty  of  Greenville,  subject  to 
modifications,  which  relate  to  a  boundary  line. 
*  As  the  undersigned  are  desirous  of  stating  every 
poin^n  connection  with  the  subject  which  may 
reasombly  influence  the  decision  of  the  American 
plenipotentiaries  in  the  exercise  of  their  discretion, 
they  avail  themselves  of  this  opportunity  to  repeat, 


■?f- 


•■m 


-«vv 


ng  their  wil- 
upon  those 
lipotentiaries 
:cede  to  the 
article  ought 
he  American 
conclusion  of 
genera.1  dis- 
rate fully  and 
rreat  Britain 
ntipuance  of 


he 


[«3 


m 


of 

that  in  con- 
s  a  sine  qua 
f  the  British 
and  security 
ion  of  those 
luent  altera- 
ven  rise, 
icessary  that 
g  the  war  in 
i  termination 
I. 

te  boundary 
hat  the  con- 
gi-ity  of  their 
I  acquire  by 
lin  the  speci- 
•e  willing  to 
ibject,  those 
t  subject  to 
line. 

tating  every 
which  may 
B  American 
r  discretion, 


„^  lUi^^lM^tt  already  t^iAM,  thai0rei^t  BriUOii  de- 

res  the  reTii(iiw  vf^  the  frentict  between  hmt  vmih 

Himink>n9,  imd  thofie  i>f  the  linked  Stutes, 

i,  vMk  mf  view  to  an  a^cquiflition  of  territoiy  a« 

dl|»MMiliQ^fpoa0of  se^wri^herpossoiiioiii^ 

Tto  ]RriMi  gov«i«i»eilt  eoii«i4prH»  UlMss,  from 
ili:«»;Q«Mi«j[»  to  TalrQ  Superior,  both  inclusive,  tob0 
^  M^tlnNlitaiy  iSifOBtaer  of  tb0  British  possessions 
^  iHoii^  Amftiion.    As  (fbe  iveiik#T  pomer  m  thfi 
piTovt^  Ai^fi^n  contjypi^nt,  the  leasl  capable  of  act^ 
ftin^^S^sKvely/iiiQi  thie  moat  exposed  to  sodden  |n- 
^yiisionji  Oirei^t  ]Rrita«i  oonsidevs  the  military  occopa- 
pon  of  t^eso  Mes  ns^  necessary  to  tbe«ecQfit;2f  of  W 
idominiwme.    A  boundary  lioe<  equally  dividioffi  tlles^ 
9^ators,  i^ifh  $,  vigb^  iift  ea^b  nation  to  arm,  both  upon 
he  lakes  and  upon  their  shores,  is  calculated  tt»  ;$%. 
te  a  ooniefjt  fi)r  nAVal  Ascendancy  in  pace  as  w)e)l  as 
»  war.    TMe  power  which  occupies  these  lufces 
iihould,  as  a  necessiii^y  result,  have  the  military  o^'CUo 
f,jpation  of  both  shores.     In  furtherance  of  this  olvject, 
tihe  British  government  is  prepared  to  propose  a  boun- 
'^  dary.    But  as  this  might  be  misconstrued  as  an  in- 
tenftoa  to  extend  their  possessions  to  the  southward 
of  the  lakes  (which  is  by  no  means  the  object  they 
*iave  in  view)  they  are  disposed  to  leave  the  territo- 
ial  limits  undisturlied,  and  as  incident  to  then,  the 
)|free  commercial  navigation  of  the  lakes,  provided  that 
f  the  American  government  will  stipulate  not  to  main- 
tain, or  construct,  any  fortifications  upon,  or  within, 
fa  limited  distance  of  the  shores,  or  maintain,  or  con- 
|struct,  any  armed  vessel  upon  the  lakes  in  question, 
or  in  the  rivers  which  empty  themselves  into  the 
5ame.-     ; -f-^-- /••.■■•  ■ 

If  this  can  be  adjusted,  there  will  then  remain  for 
discussion  the  arrangement  of  Jie  nortlmirestern 
boundary  between  lake  Superior  and  the  Mississippi, 
the  free  navigation  of  that  river,  and  such  a  variation 


■%■■ 


:f.  . 


!^ 


[«] 


nioKtion  between  Q,ttebec  and  Bnlifia. 

TUe  ondenigned  tratt^  that  tke  ML  iteiltoiieiit 
wUfeh  they  kAve  made  of  the  viefwi  and  oMcietA  of  tke 
British  govevlinient  in  feqniiin^f^the  padMtkiniif  the 
Indian  nations,  and  a  permanent  linut  to  their  teiiito- 
riesy  will  emd^e  the  Attericnn  plenipoleiilia^loeon- 
clnde  a  provisional  article  npon  the  basis  lihbte  sta- 
ied.  Should  they  feel  it  necessary  to  refer  to  tlie  go- 
vemmeni  of  the  United  States  for  liirtheFinstmdfons^ 
the  undersigned  feel  it  inennibent  npon  ^m  to  ac- 
quaint the  American  pkninotentiaries,  that  their  eo- 
vemment  cannot  be  preclude,  by  any  thing  that  has 
passed,  fbom  varying  tlie  terms  at  present  proposed, 
m  i^di  li  manner  as  the  state  of  m  war,  atdie  time 
of  li^eihniine  the  conferences,  may,  in  their  judgment, 
render  adnseable. 

lUe  undersigned  avail  themselves  of  this  occasion 
to  renew  to  the  plenipotentiaries  of  the  United  States 
the  assurance  of  their  high  consideration^ 


(Signed) 


GAMMER,  ^     r 

HEMRY  GOULBURN. 
WILLIAM  ADAMS. 

Ghent,  August  Wh,  J814.    ^  T^^^  ^  ^^"^"f  ^l,\**^' 


^^.^ 


:     -Ins 


IjcM^iDftlle 
ieiitifMiorthe 
Mr  teitito- 
tanestoeoB- 
sdbbirtista- 
[ertothego- 

^m  ik>  ac- 
lattbeireo- 
ingtlifttkis 
it  proposed^ 
9  at  this  time 
rjiidgmeiity 

lis  oecadon 
lited  States 


V   .Ji 


w . 


■'  fi^^l 


'I-    "t'' 


iiss?; 


